Birmingham Erb’s Palsy Lawyers

What is a brachial plexus injury?

The brachial plexus is a collection of nerves which run from the neck and
shoulders to the hands. These nerves control the muscles in the arms and
shoulders. Brachial plexus injuries may either be minor or severe, resulting
in permanent damage. They often involve stretching of a nerve, tearing
of the nerve, or severing of the nerve.

These injuries can occur during the delivery and cause a variety of symptoms.
Brachial plexus injuries which occur during birth are often known as “birth
related brachial plexus palsy” or “obstetric brachial plexus
palsy.”

What is Erb’s Palsy?

Considered a common type of brachial plexus injury, Erb’s plays is
a type of paralysis caused by damage to the upper trunk of cervical nerves
attached to the spinal cord. The acute symptoms of Erb’s plays are
the inability to raise the arm and to extend or turn the forearm. If left
untreated, this condition can hinder development of the affected arm,
resulting in further complications such as poor circulation, infections,
and muscle atrophy. Severe cases can lead to losing all use and feeling
in the arm.

How can a birth injury lead to Erb’s Palsy?

When it comes to birth injury, the most common cause of Erb’s palsy
is shoulder dystocia. This is the result of distress during a difficult
birth when the baby’s shoulder becomes trapped by the mother’s
pelvic bone and stretched too far during delivery.

The following are the types of conditions that can result in shoulder dystocia:

Large babies

Small mothers

Prolonged labor

Certain health conditions such as diabetes and obesity

Strong contractions

Underdeveloped neck and shoulder muscles

If the risk of shoulder dystocia is high, doctors typically recommend a
cesarean section (C-section) rather than a vaginal delivery to avoid potential
birth trauma. Doctors and other medical staff who fail to recognize the
symptoms of shoulder dystocia or who fail to recommend a C-section may
be held liable for medical malpractice.

What are the signs of Erb’s Palsy

The following are the most common signs of Erb’s palsy:

Loss of sensation in the arm

The arm cannot be raised from the side and the power to bend the elbow
is nonexistent, so the forearm cannot turn upward

The arm is rotated toward the body and the forearm is extended and turned downward

The affected arm may flop when the baby is rolled from side to side

The baby is not able to grip or has issues gripping with the hand on the
affected side

Will my child get better?

Fortunately, most babies who are diagnosed with Erb’s palsy will
eventually recover from their condition. If the nerves are only damaged
or injured, your child will eventually regain movement and feeling the arm.

However, if the nerve root is cut or severed from the spinal cord—known
as brachial plexus avulsion—then your child’s injury will
not heal on their own. The torn nerve can be helped by surgery in some
cases. The operation must be performed before the baby is six months of
age or else the damage is permanent.

How much is treatment for Erb’s palsy?

While some cases of Erb’s palsy can heal on their own, many babies
will need physical therapy and even surgery, which can be quite costly.
These medical expenses can add up fast, as can ongoing care related to
the birth injury, despite the fact the child is covered by health insurance.

Should I hire a birth injury lawyer?

If your child’s condition was the result of medical negligence, you
can seek compensation to cover these costs. An attorney who has experience
handling birth injury claims will be able to help you recover the maximum
settlement.

At Hare Wynn, we are committed to helping ease the financial burden on
your family and protect you and your baby’s future. Our birth injury
attorneys can develop an effective and personalized case on your behalf.
Do not hesitate to let us help get you back to the life you had planned
for you and your child.

The use of the Internet or this form for communication with the firm or
any individual member of the firm does not establish an attorney-client
relationship. Confidential or time-sensitive information should not be
sent through this form.

The recoveries, verdicts, favorable outcomes, and testimonials described
on this site are not an indication of future results. Every case is different,
and regardless of what friends, family, or other individuals may say about
what a case is worth, each case must be evaluated on its own facts and
circumstances as they apply to the law. The valuation of a case depends
on the facts, the damages, the jurisdiction, the venue, the witnesses,
the parties, and the testimony, among other factors. No representation
is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater
than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.

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